Prepared for the 14th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, September 1993
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Forestry, particularly timber harvesting, is a cornerstone of the British Columbia economy. Until recently, B.C.'s forests were not being adequately replenished after harvesting. The area not satisfactorily restocked (NSR) was growing at a significant rate. However, with the introduction of new policies and legislation, a substantial increase in funding, and a tremendous improvement in knowledge through research and education, the situation has been reversed. New laws require that all harvested areas be regenerated. Seedling survival has increased significantly and the backlog of NSR (1) is being eliminated. This paper provides details of recent trends in forest regeneration in British Columbia together with information on the factors behind them.
Figure 1. Slightly more than one quarter of the area of British
Columbia is
considered forest land available for harvesting.
Twenty-six million hectares of forest land is considered available for timber harvesting. About 96% of the total forest is coniferous, giving British Columbia approximately half of the national softwood inventory. Hemlock species (Tsuga heterophylla and Tsuga mertensiana) predominate in the coastal forests, while lodgepole pine (Pines contorta var. Iatifolia) and spruce (Picea engelmannii, Picea glauca, and hybrids) are the major species of interior forests. In fiscal year 1990/91, 74.3 million cubic metres were harvested from 181 500 hectares. Harvesting on unregulated private land constituted 9% of the total volume and 15% of the total area. Ninety-two per cent of the harvest was by means of clearcutting.
In calendar year 1991, British Columbia accounted for 62% of the softwood lumber, 29% of the pulp, 16% of the paper, and 84% of the softwood plywood manufactured in Canada. British Columbia's forest industry shipments of $10.2 billion (3) in 1991 represented 44% of total manufacturing shipments in the province. Forestry exports to other countries in 1991 were valued at $8.3 billion or 54% of provincial exports.
Forestry and allied industries account for about 16% of British Columbia's gross provincial product (Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations 1990).(4) More than 130 communities in the province are largely dependent on the forest sector (White et al. 1986).
- Backlog NSR is defined in British Columbia as that area not satisfactorily restocked within acceptable time periods on good and medium site managed forest land denuded prior to 1982 and that is accessible and economically viable to treat.
- Information in this section, unless otherwise referenced, is drawn from the following sources:
See Literature Cited, page 7 for complete citations.
- Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations, 1992. British Columbia Economic and Statistical Review.
- Ministry of Forests, Annual Report 1990 - 91.
- As of June 2, 1993, one British pound equals S1.96 Canadian.
- Includes direct, indirect and induced impacts based on 1984 data.
Figure 2. Average seedling survival for all species and stock
types has
increased from 54% in 1982 to 87% in 1990.
Figure 3. More area has been reforested than harvested in B.C. each
year
since 1987.
Figure 4. Backlog NSR has decreased from 738 000 ha in 1984 to
327 000 ha in
1991. The goal is to eliminate all backlog NSR by the year
2000.
Figure 5. Audits of recently harvested areas show consistently over 94%
being
projected as successful, or "free growing likely." It is
required by
law that those areas not projected to be successful be
remedied.
In late 1987 and early 1988 the Government of British Columbia introduced policy and legislative changes that have had a major effect on forest regeneration (known in British Columbia as "basic silviculture"). The changes are summarised below:
Whereas government funding provisions were previously inadequate to fund regeneration programs, the new policies not only make the full cost an industry responsibility but also make regeneration mandatory on all areas harvested. To facilitate the policy of requiring industry to produce or purchase its own seedlings, all but three of the government's 11 tree seedling nurseries were sold to the private sector.
Funding
A strong commitment to silviculture funding and to forest regeneration by both the federal and provincial governments has been fundamental to the success story. When combined with industry funding for silviculture since 1987, expenditures have risen more than 350% in the 10 years from 1982 to 1991 (Figure 6) .
Although not required by legislation, the province has also made a strong commitment to provide funding for regenerating areas that have been disturbed by fire and pests.
Figure 6. Funding for silviculture in B.C. has risen by more
than 350 per cent
during the 10-year period, 1982-1991.
Research
Federal-provincial funding agreements have enabled a substantial increase in research programs within British Columbia. This research has contributed greatly to the success of the regeneration program as evidenced by the increase in seedling survival rates.
The most significant of all the research accomplishments has been the development of a biogeoclimatic classification system for British Columbia. This hierarchical system uses climate, soil and vegetation to group ecosystems at regional and local levels. By providing a common language for describing and naming specific ecosystems, the classification system is an important tool for research and communication.
Fourteen biogeoclimatic zones-large geographic areas sharing a similar climate-are recognized across the province (Figure 7). Zones are divided into subzones, and ecological associations are classified within each subzone. British Columbia has over 600 types of climax ecosystems.
Education
Advanced silviculture has been taught at the postgraduate level since 1986 through the Silviculture Institute of British Columbia. As of September 1992, almost 100 persons have successfully completed the Institute's five education modules over a 3-year period.
Forest Practices
Forest legislation and policy, funding commitments, and improved research and education have all combined to create better forest practices.
Figure 8. Site preparation has increased overall while prescribed
burning and
site rehabilitation have given way to mechanical site
preparation
Note: Beginning in 1991, site rehabilitation is no longer recorded by the Ministry of Forests under a separate category.
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New challenges will continue to present themselves in the regeneration and management of British Columbia's forests. These may include developing new silvicultural systems that use more selection harvest techniques, that simulate "natural" forests, or that improve on mixed hardwood/softwood forest management. However, there is now a solid foundation of success in forest regeneration on which to build such improvements.
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